Sponge holder



Nov. 30, 1965 F. R. KNAEBE 3,220,040

SPONGE HOLDER Filed May 26, 1964 INVENTOR FRANK R. KNAEBE ATTO RN EYUnited States Patent 3,220,040 SPGNGE HOLDER Frank R. Knaebe, 6048 N.114th St., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed May 26, 1964, Ser. No. 370,328 1 Claim.(Cl. 15244) This invention relates to a sponge holder.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a novelhandle for removably clamping a sponge useful as a scrubbing element.

It also is an object to provide a novel handle for removably clamping asponge and in which those parts of the handle which clamp the sponge areconcealed by the sponge, thereby avoiding contact with the object withwhich the sponge is in contact when in use.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent in the descriptionof the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective, illustratinga sponge and clamping handle therefore.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the sponge removed.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the sponge.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the sponge taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the handle taken intermediatethe ends thereof.

The combined handle and sponge clamping device A shown in the drawingscomprises a single length of wire bent intermediate its ends at 1 toprovide two arm portions B and C each including respectively a handleportion 2 paralleling that of the other and jointly embracing a plastichandle filler 3 shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. The ends of theportions 2 opposite the bend 1 are curved inwardly toward each other at4 and may be affixed to each other at 5 in any suitable manner, as byspot welding. From this point 5 each arm portion B and C is curvedoutwardly away from each other at 6 and includes a sponge grippingsection 7 spaced from and paralleling that of the other arm portion.Each arm portion is then bent back upon itself at 8 to provide a secondsponge gripping section 9 substantially paralleling, when gripping thesponge S, the opposing gripping section '7. Each second sponge grippingsection 9 is then bent inwardly at 10 and 11, respectively, toward theother, the arm portion C terminating in a hook 12 and, as shown in FIG.1, releasibly embracing the adjacent secured portions 5 of the Wire. Theinwardly bent portion 10 of the arm portion C terminates at 13 and issecured to the portion B in any suitable manner, such as spot welding.

The wire is preferably resilient, especially at the bends 8 so that,when the hook 12 is released, the sponge gripping portions 7 and 9 willspring apart from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown inFIG. 2, thereby releasing the sponge.

As indicated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the sponge S is provided withlongitudinally extending, relatively spaced, parallel slots 14 on itsupper side receiving the sponge gripping sections 9 of the wire and onits under side with longitudinally extending, relatively spaced,parallel slots 15 which are also parallel to the slots 14 and receivethe gripping sections 7 of the wire. Thus the wire will be concealed atits gripping sections and will not contact a surface with which thesponge S is in contact.

The sots in the sponge also insure that the sponge will not beaccidentally displaced when in use. Although it has not been illustratedin the drawings, it will be obvious that end slots in the sponge may beprovided connecting the upper slots 14 with the lower slots 15 tofurther conceal the bends 8 in the wire.

The handle filler 3 serves as a hand gripping element giving the user afirm control of the novel brush and handle combination.

The above described combination is the preferred form. However, othermodifications may be substituted without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have disclosed a novel, simplehandle for removably holding a sponge, which conceals portions of themetal gripping portions and which insures against displacement of thesponge when in use.

One of the novel uses of this combination is that it may be used as aback scratcher or as a back washer, par-= ticularly by persons who havedifficulty in reaching areas of the back with their hands.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A sponge holder comprising a wire having a bend intermediate its ends toprovide two substantially parallel, relatively spaced portionsconverging at a point remote from said bend and terminating in adjacentrelatively aflixed portions, then diverging and merging into twosubstantially parallel, relatively spaced gripping portions eachterminating in a reverse bend merging into a second gripping portioncooperatively related to its first mentioned gripping portions and insubstantially parallel, relatively spaced relation to each other and tothe first mentioned gripping portions, the end of each said secondgripping portions remote from said reverse bend converging toward theother and aflixed together, the extreme end of one of said secondgripping portions having a hook releasably engageable with said aifixedportions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,127 7/1894Miller 99-402 858,937 7/1907 Adams 99402 1,168,708 1/1916 Byram 15147.01,248,846 12/ 19 17 Goeltsch 2111 19 1,433,326 10/1922 Wolfe 152441,658,153 2/1928 Applin 15209.51

I FOREIGN PATENTS 390,630 8/ 1908 France. 163,645 5/ 1921 Great Britain.118,570 4/ 1947 Sweden.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

